www.iFourWinns.com

I was working replacing the holding tank vent hose on my 2000 Vista 268 and had the starboard aft cabin ceiling panel removed. I didn't get the job finished last weekend so I left the panel off and my tools in the cabin. Put the canvas cover on the boat and went home. We had a couple rain storms during the week and when I went back to the boat today all the tools under the open ceiling panel were soaked. I looked in the narrow gap between the fiberglass exposed by the open panel and could see daylight through a couple access holes in the fiberglass. This is the only place that i could see where water could have entered the aft cabin near the starboard side of the hull. Turns out these holes(4inches in diameter) were behind the vinyl padding on the starboard side of the helm aft of the throttle. I shot some silicone between the vinyl and hull here to try and seal this area.

It really seems like the amount of water that came into the aft cabin couldn't have made it through the canvas cover and run down the gap between the vinyl and fiberglass on the starboard side of the hull. I think I have a pretty good bead of silicone inconspicuously placed to fix the problem, but am still concerned it could be something else. Has anyone else ever run into this problem? Also what types of canvas waterproofing treatments have you used for your boat covers? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

PAC Winn
268 Vista

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Pac Winn

First Boat:
2000 Vista 268

I use 303 on the canvas.

But even without canvas, the cockpit should be self bailing and you should be getting any water into cabin.
But, know that any water that would get into cabin, will just run into bilge.

Is your boat store on the water or a trailer. Is the nose angled up so water can run to the bilge.
If on the water and nose heavy, possible not draining properly.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I have a 2003 248, and don't know how similar it is to yours. I also had a leak in the aft cabin.
There are two 4" diam. access holes under the padded vinyl on the starboard side. I know that some water leaked through those holes. I took it off (2 screws) and siliconed some thin plastic over the holes under the vinyl. It helped, but did not completely solve my problem.
I also had an extra hole drilled to hold down side of the windshield. It took a while to find it, but I stopped all water coming in with a shot of caulk under the black foam that cushions the side windshield.

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2003 248 Vista on Lake Champlain

Pac

Even with the canvas up on my previous 03 268, i would get some canvas leakage in the windshield area. The water runs down both port and starboard sides of the gunwale and drains thru some small channels that go under the windshield very near the throttle and directly acrossed. It doesnt take much for those channels to get clogged, and if clogged i can see where it might pool and run behind the padded trim and in the access holes. I never had water in the aft, but if you do i would look at those channels and if needed silicone some plastic over like has already been mentioned.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

One thing to look at is the black weather strip that holds the glass in. I had a guy with the same year and model as yours have this happen at my marina. the trim was old and brittle and water would run down the side glass (right behind the helm on the starboard side) under the glass and come out the other side of the black trim. I wouldnt believe it until I saw it. then it builds up on the fiberglass, runs down to the aft facing seat across moving to the port side, and down around the aft cabin window. I know it sounds crazy but for the longest time he couldnt figure it out so we hing out on his boat having a few beers...I mean bottles waters , and saw the water coming in. He just put a very thin bead of clear caulk along the window trim to stop it. Much better and cheaper then replacing the window trim. you may be able to see some calcium build up near the trim of the window if water has been getting in this way.

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
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